Gonorrhea Test
Reviewed
Also called: GC test, gonorrhea DNA probe test, gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), GC culture
A gonorrhea test looks for signs of a gonorrhea bacterial infection in a sample of your urine or body fluid. Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the genitals, rectum, throat, and eyes. Testing helps detect the infection early so you can get treatment and prevent serious health problems or spread to others.
Specimen: Urine or swab from urethra, cervix, vagina, throat, rectum, or eyes
Why this test may be ordered
- To screen for a gonorrhea infection when you have no symptoms but may have been exposed
- To diagnose or rule out gonorrhea when you have symptoms such as unusual discharge, pain when urinating, or rectal symptoms
- Often done together with a chlamydia test because the infections have similar symptoms and can occur together
Preparation and collection
For a urine test, avoid urinating for 2 hours before the test. For a cervical or vaginal swab, avoid using vaginal douches or creams for 24 hours before the test. Tell your provider if you are taking antibiotics.
You will provide a sample of fluid from the part of your body that may be infected. This can be a first-catch urine sample (collect the very first part of your urine stream) or a swab sample from the genital area, rectum, cervix, throat, or eyes. Your provider may give you the option to swab yourself following special instructions. At-home test kits are also available for urine collection.
There are no known risks to having a gonorrhea test. You may feel brief discomfort if a swab sample is taken from the urethra at the tip of the penis. You may also feel discomfort from a cervical swab and/or experience vaginal bleeding or other discharge.
Understanding results
Your test results will show whether a gonorrhea infection was found in your sample. Your healthcare provider will interpret the results based on your symptoms and risk factors.
- Negative (normal): No gonorrhea bacteria were found in your sample. Limitation: A negative result does not completely rule out gonorrhea. If you were exposed recently, the test may have been taken too soon to detect the infection (it can take weeks to test positive). Next step: If you have symptoms or think you were exposed, talk to your provider about retesting. Continue to practice safe sex.
- Positive (abnormal): Gonorrhea bacteria were found in your sample, indicating an active infection. Limitation: Some types of gonorrhea bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. If symptoms persist after treatment, your provider may order a susceptibility test to find the best antibiotic. Next step: You will need treatment with antibiotics right away. Tell your sex partners so they can be tested and treated. Avoid sex for at least 7 days after completing treatment. Get retested in 3 months to ensure the infection is cured.
- A negative test result does not rule out gonorrhea if the test is taken too soon after exposure (it may take weeks to become positive).
- Some types of gonorrhea bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics, which may affect treatment success.
What to do next
If your test is positive, follow your provider's treatment plan exactly, take all antibiotics as prescribed, and avoid sex for at least 7 days. Notify your sex partners so they can be tested. Retest in 3 months to confirm cure. If your test is negative but you have symptoms or ongoing risk, ask your provider about retesting. Practice safe sex (correct condom use, mutual monogamy with a tested partner) to prevent future infections.
- What are my risk factors for gonorrhea?
- Should I be tested for other STIs like chlamydia, syphilis, or HIV?
- How soon after exposure can this test detect gonorrhea?
- What should I do if my test is positive?
- Can I use an at-home test kit, and how reliable is it?